The Ages of Man
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Performing Arts,Theater
The Ages of Man Details
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Reviews
Sir John Gielgud must have one of the most well-trained, beautiful voices of any modern actor. His reading of passages from the world's greatest playwright (greatest author? greatest artist?) is a treat, one I've enjoyed over a dozen times without beginning to tire of. Although Gielgud is simply reading his favorite passages and sonnets with only minimal (and rather lame) introductions and transtitions, the greatness of the material still shines through. The lines alternately exude bitter sadness, biting humor, intense excitement, and always an unmatched understanding of what it means to be human. I'm glad that there are several passages from HAMLET, my favorite play, but less familiar passages are equally memorable--Clarence's recounting of a horrible dream foreshadowing his imminent death from RICHARD III, Leontes's bitterly jealous rant from WINTER'S TALE, Cassius's magnificent denunciation of Caesar from JULIUS CAESAR, and Prospero's renunciation of his magic from THE TEMPEST. The last passage works on several levels--as the resolution of the play of course, as Shakespeare's symbolic farewell to the "rough magic" of writing, and as a great actor's triumphant goodbye to the stage. Listening to Gielgud deliver these speeches is as close as we will likely ever come to hearing the words of the bard as they should be delivered, I can't recommend this tape too highly.